Page Turning Books: Author Interview

Author Interview – Marie Maiden

What methods did you use to find your father?

To find my father, I used people search engines on the internet, court records for public viewing and records from the Social Security Administration.

During your 18 year long search for your father, you ended up finding the plantation where your ancestors lived as slave. What was it like for you to find the plantation home of your ancestors?

Finding the plantation where my ancestors lived as slaves was like finding the first part of the cure for the emotional pain that I felt over not knowing my father. I began to feel a sense of well-being deep down in my soul, that I had not felt before. I began to feel connected to my father and his family before I had found and met them.

Chapter three of your book is called “No One to Watch Over Me” Did you feel that you had no one to watch over you as a child growing up?

I grew up poor and often times there was not any food in the house to eat. I was neglected, not on purpose, but I was left to fend for myself and it was very hard.

You write in the book that, you had a less than desirable childhood. How would you describe your childhood?

I didn’t have anyone to train me and teach me how to value myself. I had no one to teach me all the things that young girls should be taught. I was on my own to raise myself and I made a lot of bad mistakes in my life.

You write about your life as a teenaged mother, tell us about that?

When I became pregnant I was deeply ashamed of myself. I was suicidal and strongly contemplated throwing myself down a flight of stairs in hopes of ending the pregnancy.